2017 Democratic Republic of the Congo Ebola virus outbreak

2017 Democratic Republic of the Congo Ebola virus outbreak refers to the eighth outbreak of Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The outbreak was first reported on 11 May 2017 and declared over on 2 July 2017.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The term "Ebola" originates from the Ebola River, near which the first recognized outbreaks of the disease occurred in 1976. The river's name in turn, is derived from the Lingala language word "Ebola", meaning "Black River".

Outbreak[edit | edit source]

The 2017 outbreak was localized in the Bas-Uele Province, located in the northern part of the DRC. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a total of eight suspected cases, with four deaths. The outbreak was declared over on 2 July 2017, after 42 days without any new cases. This was the eighth outbreak of Ebola virus disease in the DRC since the virus was first discovered in the country in 1976.

Response[edit | edit source]

The Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the WHO responded quickly to the outbreak. The WHO provided technical and logistical support, while the Ministry of Health conducted surveillance and contact tracing. The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) also provided support.

Related terms[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

2017 Democratic Republic of the Congo Ebola virus outbreak Resources
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